Work Text:
Carrying Callie was something Four quickly—by force—got used to. Every time, which felt like every hour, Callie got hypnotized, she always ended up slung over her shoulder. Did Four mind? No…not really, well that was a lie.
Like right now, after another very repetitive battle, yet again Callie was slung over her shoulder. Usually the escapes happen during the day, this time it was night. The moon being the only indication of said hour.
With a small sigh Four pushed forward, readjusting Callie’s weight. Marie noticed this of course but just held on tighter to her brella. They could talk later, right now the more important issue was getting Callie home. Back into bed, safe, and just home.
It felt like an eternity before Marie pushed open the door to their apartment. Walking straight to Callie’s room, Four didn’t even spare the idol another glance.
Nights were rough, and they were only getting rougher on both of them. Marie shares the mental toll of her cousin's addiction, and Four carries…a lot of weight on her shoulders.
Pun intended.
In all seriousness Marie knew Four couldn’t keep fussing over her responsibilities, hire or no hire. Morally, it wasn’t just. But the world wasn’t.
Marie considered herself fair.
She wouldn’t be unfair again. Or at least stop herself. This time.
“Hey, Callie’s tucked in and knocked out.” Four said, walking towards Marie who had somehow ended up leaning over the kitchen island. She didn’t remember moving there. “I turned on her little lamp just in case she wakes up in the middle of the night.” Four motioned with a small tired smile.
Marie gave a crooked smile, knowing how much Callle loved her night light. “Thanks…you didn’t have to.”
Four shrugs, walking around the island to open their fridge. Squinting her eyes Four looked through the fridge, looking like she could topple over and sleep inside it. After moments of silence, her hand reached over for a fresh cold water bottle, shutting the fridge, and taking a swig of the drink.
Copying Marie’s stance, Four leaned on her elbow mimicking her position. “Are you planning on sleeping soon?”
“No, not really.” She denied with a shake of her head. “It’s still early.” Her hand slowly turned, an open invitation for Four to grab it. Taking the hint, Four interlaced their fingers together.
This was new- well not super new. Their relationship had changed since…the first Callie incident. Marie found Four more, bearable. And Four felt the same. There was no label to this, yet at least, Four had a feeling Marie wanted that to change soon but didn’t know how to approach the subject.
Wikihowto didn’t have a section on how to ask out a famous pop star whose expectations were probably high, as a low life squid without a penny to her name.
Four scrunched her face. It wasn’t early at all. “I’m not sure if 1 am is exactly what you would call early.”
“It is.”
“Is it or are you just feeling guilty?” Four pointed out, watching the patterns Marie was tracing on her hands. Marie turned to look up at the squid who was still admiring their held hands. Unclasping their hands, Marie brought them up to her agents neck, loosely sitting them on her shoulders.
Her smile turned into a sly smirk at Fours obvious embarrassment. Sucking it up Four placed hers on Marie’s waist, pulling her just the slightest bit closer. Marie could feel how exhausted the agent felt, practically leaning all her weight on the idol. Not that Marie minded.
“You could go home now, you know.” She retorted, not unkindly, just not liking the way Four could read her so well; remembering her previous words. She supposed it tended to happen in relationships. Was that what this was? Relationships required vulnerability, something Marie wasn’t sure she was ready for again.
But Four made her want to blindly jump into it, if she asked. Which she hadn’t, much to Marie’s displeasure. Instead, giving her the exact space and time she needed. Showing nothing but smiles and patience. God she hated that.
“You’re the one keeping me here.” Four muttered, squeezing her waist.
Marie chuckled, leaning up to place a small kiss on her cheek, loving the way Four leaned into it. “Well every hero deserves a reward don’t they?” She replied in the same tone, leaning back to meet her face, testing her.
Seemingly getting the hint, Four leaned just the slightest bit closer, centimeters from closing the gap. Just to pull away with a cocky smile tugging on her lips. Marie scoffed, furrowing her eyebrows at the loss of contact.
“Hot chocolate would be a nice reward.” Four suggested, placing a finger on her chin in thought as she rummaged through the cabinets. Her attempts at disguising her smile unsuccessful.
Turning her head towards Marie, she pulled out the hot chocolate box. “Where's your marshmallows?”
With a sigh, Marie lifted herself up from the island. She’d rather not have a tired Four rummage and disorganize her pantry in an attempt to find marshmallows. Living with someone like Callie made Marie make sure to always have some emergency supply of sugar in their inventory.
Shoving Four away, who stumbled back a few feet she’d be fine. Marie reached into the depths of the cabinet, pulling out her secret stash filled with wonders of any kid's imagination. In this case, Callie’s imagination. Double stuffed Oreos, Gummy bears, Gummy cola? Four grimaced at the sight of that one.
“What? Those are good.” Marie defended, popping one in her mouth much to Fours evident distaste.
Fun dip, yum. Some more Gummy bears, sour candy, lollipops, Strawberry melatonin gummies, Squiddles, KitKats-
“Marie what the fuck are melatonin gummies doing in your snack drawer.” Four questioned, suspiciously.
Marie simply raised an eyebrow, quickly grabbing the case before Fours hand could pull them out, placing them in another secret drawer, slamming it shut. “That’s confidential.”
“Marie what the f-“
“Oh look, marshmallows!” Marie responded, slamming the cabinet shut with the brand new bag in her hand. She threw it carelessly at Four, stifling a laugh at her late reaction to catch the bag.
Fortunately Four seemed too tired to further question or investigate anything weird going on in Marie’s drawer, that or she knew better than to. Good choice.
When Four made a move to touch the stove that’s when Marie interrupted, offering to do it for her. It seemed the agent also had no strength to argue with Marie, simply nodding and accepting it, placing a small kiss on Marie’s forehead.
Marie pretended like it didn’t affect her. At all. Whatever. Callie’s always been the better actor anyways.
She focused all her energy into pouring the milk, mixing it accordingly until ready for the mixture. Her nose scrunched in distaste, personally she wasn’t one for the store bought powdered chocolate. And if it wasn’t so late, Marie would’ve voiced that complaint.
Reluctantly, she kept stirring until ready. It seemed then Four was ready to help, presenting two mugs for the chocolate. Marie stepped back allowing Four to do whatever she needed, pour it in, add considerably excessive amounts of marshmallows, and some whipped cream to Marie’s. Just the way Marie preferred it.
And maybe Marie smiled at that.
Sleepiness was definitely crashing down on her if that was the case.
Four turned to her with the finished product, setting the stove to low, tilting her head towards Callie’s room. Marie shook her head in denial, once Callie was out she was out. No point in saving some for her. Understanding, Four turned the dial off, walking towards the living room. Marie followed behind, slumping into the empty space beside the agent.
Some random show was playing on the tv, possibly a game show, the laugh track ringing through the silent atmosphere. Although Marie didn’t quite pay attention to it; Four was completely engrossed in it, eyes lighting up, her laugh erupting butterflies in Marie’s stomach at some stupid jokes they made.
She’d spend hours working on comedic material if it meant Four would laugh.
The sight was special, and something Marie wouldn’t mind seeing on a daily basis. Coming home from a tiring day at work, seeing Four there on her couch, laying with her on said couch, doing maybe a little more than just watching tv. Just living there with her. Being there. That’d be nice.
“Move in with me?” The words slipped out before Marie could even process, surprising them both.
Facing the other inkling, Four looked at her incredulously, “Where’s this coming from?” Four asked curiously.
“I honestly don’t know, but it’d be nice if you were here.” Marie sighed, placing her mug on the table, watching it quake before leaning back into the couch. Her head tilted up to meet Fours gaze, waiting.
Four pursed her lips, placing her mug down too. “Usually you ask someone on a date first before moving in together.” Her tone came out teasingly but the furrow in her eyebrows hinted at something different.
“Would you say yes if I did?” She asked, voice laced with slight hesitation.
Fours face softened, grabbing the tips of Marie’s fingers and lacing them together, placing a soft kiss on her knuckles before bringing them down to her lap. “I think you already know the answer to that Marie.”
“I know, but it’d be nice to hear you say it.”
“I would love to go on a date with you.”
“And moving in?”
“Probably not, not now at least.” She hummed, once again motioning to the other room. “Callie still needs you.”
And I, you. “Bummer, I was looking forward to hiring a personal chef.” Marie sighed, rolling her eyes playfully, leaning further into Fours side.
Oh yeah the drowsiness was definitely getting to her.
Four scoffed, pinching the fabric of her agent outfit, “You don’t even pay me for this.” A teasing grin tugging at her lips, “I highly doubt my pay would increase as your chef.”
“What if I offered you other methods of payment?” Marie raised an eyebrow, again testing her like before in the kitchen.
Four shrugged, eyes darting briefly to her lips. “I might accept.”
That was all it took for Marie to finally, finally, tug her in and press her lips against Fours. A sigh left them both at the feeling, it was soft and sweet. The feeling left Four wishing that she had left cowardice behind and done this sooner, but instead she just pressed deeper, causing Marie to break the kiss with a smile.
“Keep kissing me like that and I might just forget the unpaid labor you make me do.” Four muttered against her lips with a grin.
“Shut up.” Marie grumbled, pulling her agent in again, effectively shutting her up with no complaints. The cups of hot chocolate, quickly forgotten.
Definitely, one hundred percent had the sleepiness gotten to her head, not that Marie minded anyways.